Door closer mechanism



Nov. 13, 1956 M. CARLSON ,0

DOOR CLOSER MECHANISM Filed March 5, 1952 b l E My; 4 z? J95 mm zgfi zn y fwd/Q 6: fi e/ and a cam thereon arcuately againstv spring DOOR CLOSER MECHANISM 'Martin' Carison, Brookfield, and Edward G. Bruhnke, La

Grange. Park, lllL, assignors to George WcHoulsby, Jr., 1Chicago, Ill.

This invention relates to improvements in door closer mechanism.

A door closer mechanism of the type to which the present improvements relate comprises acasing located in the floor at the hinge side ofadoor, the casing containing the door closer and checking mechanism. A cover plate for the casing is attached thereto in a position substantially flush with the door and upwardly through the plate extends a vertical spindle to which the lower portion of the door is attachedby means of an arm secured to the lower edge of the door. Swinging movement of the door in openingit turns the spindle action for storing energy in the spring mechanism which swings the door to a closed position when the door is released by the force appliedin opening it. Means for checking the closing movement of the .door as the same approaches contact with the jamb is provided in such mechanism generally but such .closing and checking mechanism is not, per se, a part of the presentinvention which relates primarily to the coacting armand spindleby means of which a door is operatively connected to the mechanism.

Inasmuch as the arm mentioned above is attached to the lower edge of the door, it must be attached prior to hanging the door and since the upper end of the spindle is received within a recess or socket in a head portion of the arm, the door with the arm attached thereto must be lowered in mounting the head upon the spindle. The upper rail of the door frame prevents the elevation of the door sufiiciently, while the latter is in the vertical plane of the frame, to enable the recessed head to be placed upon the spindle and therefore the door must be tilted or cocked slightly to the side of swinging movement for clearing the framing or rail to enable the door to be elevated as required in mounting the head upon the spindle. Such necessary tilting or cocking of the door in so mounting the head of the arm upon the spindle requires that the recess in the head which receives the spindle be of a size capable of receiving the spindle while the head is so tilted from the horizontal plane which it occupies when the door is finally mounted in a vertical plane. Such recess or socket in the head of the arm thus cannot be of a size as to provide a snug operating fit for the spindle upon assembly of the head upon the spindle and various means have heretofore been provided for securing the spindle rigidly in the recess of the head as is necessary since, during the opening of the door, the spindle is turned by the head on a vertical axis against spring resistance to store energy in the spring mechanism above-mentioned which acting through the spindle and head effects closure of the door when released from the opening force or from a hold-open mechanism.

Various spindle shapes and cooperating head recesses have heretofore been devised with the object of securing the head rigidly to the spindle but insofar as We are aware, none of such arrangements have been entirely satisfactory either as to durability or ease of assembly.

nitecl States Patent 2,770,004 Patented *Nov. 13, '1 956 One object of the present improvement is to provide, in a door closer mechanism, an arm having a recessed head and a spindle cooperatively shaped to facilitate mounting the head upon the spindle while the head is in relatively inclined'relation-with respect to its final position on the spindle and-having means for effecting rigid securement of the head to the spindle in the final operat ing positions of the parts. I

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a door closer mechanisrn,'a spindle and an arm having a socketed or recessed head for receiving theupper end portion of the spindle in a temporary or'non-final position and means for securing the head in a final operative position on the spindle.

Other objects of the invention will be'apparent-from a consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawing which disclose a structure which is illustrative of the present invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional'view taken on line 11 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a broken elevational view of the lower portion of a swinging door and the door casing and illustrating the improved door closer mechanism in conjunction therewith;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 4, and illustrating the head of the door closer arm in final locked-up position on the vertical spindle of a door closer mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line .4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but priorto the seating of the parts in the final position; and

Fig. 6 is a broken vertical sectional -view through a door illustrating the same in an inclined position relative to the door casing as in mounting the head of the arm upon the door closer spindle.

Referring to the drawing, a single acting door 10 is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in closed position in a door .opening defined by the door frame F. The door is hingedly mounted relative to the frame opening by means .of an upper hinge, not shown, and adjacent the lower end by the cooperating parts of the door closer member to be described. 'Door closer mechanisms of the type under consideration generally comprise a casing 11 which generally is located in a cement casing in the floor adjacent the plane of the door. The casing 11 is provided with a cover 12 secured thereto and having an opening therein through which projects a vertical spindle 13. The spindle is rotatable arcuately about a vertical axis as the door is moved, the opening movement of the door operating the spindle for storing energy in a spring resisted structure (not shown) within the casing which structure rotates the spindle in the opposite direction for closing the door when the door is released following an opening movement thereof. The door 10 is secured to the spindle 13 by means of an arm 14 having an offset head 15 provided with a vertical recess or socket 16. The socket 15 is open only at the lower side of the head as shown in Fig. 3. The top wall of the head, in the structure herein illustrated, is provided with a threaded opening which carries a vertical adjusting screw 17 which will be referred to later.

As viewed in Fig. 2, it will be seen that the-spindle projects above the level of the lower edge of the door and hence in hanging the door initially, the door must be elevated sutficiently to raise the lower end of the head above the upper end of the spindle. The usual door frame prohibits such elevation of the door in the plane of the frame, as will be obvious, and hence in mounting the head upon the spindle, it is necessary that the door be tilted or cooked to clear'the upper end or 3 the frame, as indicated generally in Fig. 6. Lowering the head of the arm upon the spindle while in such slightly inclined position requires that the recess 16 of the head be of such size and shape as to accommodate the spindle while the head is in a slightly cocked position, as shown in Fig. 6. After the head has been lowered upon the spindle, the door can be tilted to its vertical position within the frame, the upper hinge can then be attached and other steps taken to complete the door mounting.

As shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, the recess 16 which receives the upper end portion of the spindle is of greater cross sectional area than the received portion of the spindle. The recess, in the form illustrated, has a semicylindrical portion 18 at the right-hand side, as viewed in Fig. 4, which terminates at the left-hand side in a portion defined by a flat abutment wall 19 and two adjacent fiat walls 20. The walls 20 merge into the semi-cylindrical wall 18. The upper end of the spindle which is received within the recess 16 is provided with two opposed fiat faces 21 and 22.

As stated above, the cross sectional area of the recess 16 is greater than the cross sectional area of the received portion of the spindle and hence the head can be lowered upon the spindle while the head is in a slightly cocked or tilted position, as indicated in Fig. 6, provided the head is shifted slightly to the right so as to locate the cylindrical portion of the recess in alignment with the spindle, as illustrated generally in Fig. 5. After the parts have been so assembled, the door and the head can be shifted to the left relative to the spindle from the position in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 4 in which position it will be seen that the fiat wall 19 of the recess will bear against the fiat face 21 of the spindle. In such position, also, it will be noted that the fiat walls contiguous to the fiat wall 19 are in substantially embracing relation with the contiguous portions of the curved walls of the spindle. A clamp screw 23 which extends horizontally through a threaded opening in the wall of the head opposed to the flat wall 19 is adapted to engage the flat face 22 of the spindle and hold the parts in the assembled relation shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In the position shown in Fig. 4, with the screw 23 tightened against the spindle, the head of the arm is secured firmly to the spindle and hence relative movement of the arm relative to the spindle or of the spindle relative to the arm is prevented.

For the purpose of holding the door with adequate 4 pressure against the jamb 24 of the door frame F when the door is in closed position, the spindle 13, under the urgence of the spring mechanism above referred to, tends to rotate counterclockwise slightly from the position shown in Fig. 4. Hence prior to the mounting of the door upon the spindle, as above described, the spindle may be in a position slightly counterclockwise beyond the position shown in Fig. 4 but can be later moved to the position illustrated by the tightening of the screw 23 or, if desired, by means of a suitable tool grasping the spindle just above the floor line after the mounting of the head upon the spindle.

Ajusting the screw 17, above referred to, is provided to enable the door to be raised or lowered slightly as may sometimes be necessary in initially mounting the door or, following a period of use, after first loosening the clamping screw 23 slightly and adjusting the screw 17 either upwardly or downwardly as the condition warrants.

In the use of the present improvements, the door in an inclined position to clear the frame is lowered in placing the recess of the head over the upper end of the spindle and thereafter the door is moved into the vertical position. The width of the frame opening accommodates such limited shifting movement of the door in the plane of the opening as may be necessary. By tightening the screw 23, the head may be axially shifted slightly relative to the spindle from the position indicated in Fig. 5

to the position in Figs. 3 and 4. In the latter figures, the fiat face 21 of the spindle contacts the flat wall 19 of the recess and the opposed portions 20 of the recess embrace the adjacent curved portions of the spindle. The head is thus prevented from shifting in any direction relative to the spindle and the door is retained securely to the spindle for swinging movement about the vertical axis of the spindle.

The present improvements enable the clamp screw 23 to be of a diameter to provide the strength required in holding the flat wall 19 of the socket in tight contact with the flat face 21 of the spindle while resisting bending moment and thus prevent relative movement between the arm and the spindle. The wall 19 is shown as having a centrally located verticalrelief channel 25 which enables a firm, stable contact of the wall to be established with the vertical marginal portions of the face 21 of the spindle upon tightening the screw 23.

While we have shown and described the details of the cooperating arm and spindle of a door closer mechanism which embody the present improvements, changes in the parts as shown and described may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. Ina door closer mechanism, a vertical operating spindle adapted to extend above the floor level in the swinging axis of the door and a horizontal arm for attachment to the door and spindle and movable with the spindle about the vertical axis thereof, said spindle being provided with opposed flat faces at the upper portion, said arm having a head provided with a vertical recess open at the lower side of the head for receiving said upper portion of the spindle, said recess being of greater cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of the upper end portion of the spindle and being so shaped to enable said recess to receive said portion of the spindle when the head is lowered upon the spindle in tilted relation thereto in an angular direction with respect to the normal plane of the door, said recess being generally cylindrical and provided at one side thereof with an extension terminating in a flat wall of a width enabling the head to be shifted upon the spindle to move said flat wall into contacting relation with one of the fiat faces of the spindle, an adjusting screw in a threaded opening in the wall of the recess opposed to said fiat wall and adapted to be tightened against the other fiat face of the spindle to shift the head and arm transversely of the spindle for pressing said flat wall of the recess firmly against the first-mentioned fiat face of the spindle and clamping the head to the spindle against relative movement in directions normal to said fiat wall of the recess, and means for preventing shifting of the head on the spindle in directions parallel to said flat wall comprising wall portions adjacent said fiat wall at each longitudinal edge thereof and providing abutments for opposed surface portions of the spindle when said screw is tightened.

2. In a door closer mechanism, a vertical operating spindle adapted to extend above the floor level within the axis of swinging movement of the door and a horizontal arm for attachment to the door and spindle and movable with the spindle about the vertical axis of the latter, said spindle being provided with opposed flat faces at the upper portion thereof, said arm having a head provided with a vertical recess open at the lower side of the head for receiving said upper portion of the spindle and closed at the upper side of the head by a transverse wall, said recessbeing of greater cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of said upper portion of the spindle and being so shaped to enable said recess to receive said portion of the spindle when the head is lowered upon the spindle in tilted relation thereto in an anglar direction with respect to the normal plane of the door. said recess being provided at one side thereof with a fiat vertical W311 Of a Width to enable the head to be shifted upon the spindle to move said flat wall into superficial contacting relation with one of the flat faces of the spindle, a vertical adjusting screw in a threaded opening in said transverse wall of said head adapted for adjustment into positions of engagement with the upper end of said spindle for varying the elevation of the head and arm with respect to the spindle, a horizontal clamping screw in a wall of said recess opposed to said flat wall and adapted for contact with the other fiat face of said spindle for locking said fiat wall of the head in firm contact with said first-mentioned fiat face of the spindle, and means for preventing shifting movement of the head upon the spindle in directions parallel with said flat wall of the recess when said horizontal clamping screw is tightened comprising a wall portion of said recess at each vertical edge of said flat wall arranged to abut contiguous wall portions of the spindle.

3. In a door closer mechanism, a vertical operating spindle adapted to extend above the floor level within the axis of swinging movement of the door and a horizontal arm for attachment to the door and spindle, said arm having a head provided with a vertical recess open at the lower side of the head for receiving the upper portion of the spindle, said recess being substantially longer than a horizontal cross section of said portion, in a direction transverse to the plane of the door, and at least as wide as said cross section to enable said recess to receive said portion of the spindle when said head is lowered upon said spindle in tilted relation thereto in an angular direction with respect to the normal plane of the door, said recess having a flat vertical wall at one side thereof, said spindle having a flat vertical face, and a threaded clamp screw in a threaded recess in the wall of the head opposite the fiat vertical wall thereof adapted to engage the spindle on the side thereof opposed to said flat face for holding the flat wall of the recess in contact with said fiat face of the spindle for constraining the arm and spindle to operate in unison about the spindle axis.

4. In a door closer mechanism, a vertical operating spindle adapted to extend above the floor level within the axis of swinging movement of the door and a horizontal arm for attachment to the door and spindle, said arm having a head provided with a vertical recess open at the lower side of the head for receiving the upper portion of the spindle, said recess being substantially longer than a horizontal cross section of said portion, in a direction transverse to the plane of the door, and at least as wide as said cross section to enable said recess to receive said portion of the spindle when said head is lowered upon said spindle, in tilted relation thereto, in an angular di rection with respect to the normal plane of the door, said recess having a fiat vertical Wall at one side thereof, a threaded clamp screw in a threaded opening in the wall of the head disposed at right angles to said flat wall, said spindle having opposed fiat faces, one adapted to contact the flat wall of the recess and the other engageable by said screw for clamping said flat faces of the spindle between the screw and the opposed flat wall of the recess, and wall portions adjacent the vertical edges of said flat wall of the recess adapted for close contact with the contiguous wall portions of the spindle when the head is clamped to the spindle for restraining movement of the head relative to the spindle in directions parallel with said flat wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 980,592 Brucker Jan. 3, 1911 2,186,678 Johnston Jan. 9, 1940 2,313,216 Blanchard Mar. 9, 1943 2,598,926 Logan June 3, 1952 2,674,767 Fairhurst Apr. 13, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 18,283 Great Britain Aug. 8, 1912 

